Category: Middle East
Coverage of geopolitics, international relations, and current affairs from across the Middle East, including conflicts, alliances, energy politics, peace processes, and regional security issues.
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Lebanon plans to submit a formal complaint to the U.N. Security Council over Israel’s construction of a concrete barrier along the southern border, which Beirut says extends beyond the U.N.-demarcated Blue Line. The Blue Line—drawn in 2000 following Israel’s withdrawal from south Lebanon—marks the separation between Lebanon, Israel, and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. A spokesperson…
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Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is no longer enriching uranium at any site after strikes by Israel and the United States in June, stressing that Iran remains open to negotiations. He said all facilities are under IAEA monitoring and enrichment has paused only because they were attacked. Araghchi added that talks with Washington…
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Hamas is expanding its administrative reach across Gaza as foreign powers debate who should govern the territory under plans for a transitional authority. Residents report increased oversight of goods entering Hamas-held areas, with some merchants saying fees are imposed on items such as fuel and cigarettes — claims denied by Ismail Al-Thawabta, head of the…
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Türkiye’s President Tayyip Erdogan said the most “realistic” route to resolving Cyprus’s long-running political deadlock is a two-state arrangement, reaffirming Ankara’s stance on the island’s division. He spoke in Ankara alongside Tufan Erhürman, the newly elected Turkish Cypriot President, who has signalled readiness to explore a federal settlement long supported by the United Nations. •…
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Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and his Reconstruction and Change coalition have emerged ahead in Iraq’s 2025 parliamentary election, securing 1.3 million votes, according to the Independent High Electoral Commission. Al-Sudani welcomed the 56% turnout, calling it “clear evidence of another success” and a sign of renewed trust in the political system. But the…
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All 20 personnel aboard a Turkish Air Force C-130 cargo plane that crashed in eastern Georgia have been confirmed dead, Defence Minister Yaşar Güler announced on Wednesday (Nov. 12). The aircraft was en route from Ganja, Azerbaijan to Türkiye when it went down in Sighnaghi municipality, near the Azerbaijani border. The cause remains under investigation.…
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Israel’s parliament has approved the first readings of two contentious bills — one introducing the death penalty for convicted terrorists, and another granting the government power to close foreign media outlets without court oversight. The proposed death penalty bill, backed by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Jewish Power party, passed 39–16. It would apply to…
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Iraqis began voting to elect a new 329-member parliament on Tuesday (Nov. 11). Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is seeking a second term as public confidence in the political system wanes. Turnout is expected to fall below the record low of 41% seen in 2021, reflecting voter disillusionment and a boycott led by Shi’ite cleric…
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Tens of thousands protested in Lisbon against Prime Minister Luís Montenegro’s proposed labour reforms, which unions say threaten workers’ rights. The bill, backed by Chega, would ease dismissals and extend working hours. Critics warn it risks deepening inequality as most Portuguese workers earn under €1,000 monthly — among Europe’s lowest wages.
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The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has intensified cloud seeding operations across the UAE as part of efforts to enhance rainfall during a period of reduced precipitation. The programme, active since the early 2000s, combines AI, advanced radar systems, and nanotechnology to stimulate rain formation. Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique that introduces substances…
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